It was clear to us that social movements and activism can only take us so far in our mission.
Social movements rarely succeed if they violate our gut sense of decency and moral proportion.
As I review the great history of our nation, community organizers have been at the center of so many of our great social movements.
Major social movements eventually fade into the landscape not because they have diminished but because they have become a permanent part of our perceptions and experience.
Universities are some of the few places left where a struggle for the commons, for public life, if not democracy itself, can be made visible through the medium of collective voices and social movements energized by the need for a politics and way of life counter to authoritarian capitalism.
The great thing about social movements is everybody gets to be a part of them.
Understanding Hamas/Hezbollah as social movements that are progressive, that are on the left, that are part of a global left, is extremely important. That does not stop us from being critical of certain dimensions of both movements.
Cults, or related social movements such as the Taliban in Afghanistan, result in massive military expenses.
Being part of social movements like Black Lives Matter or organizations like NAACP, or any group representing a cause, gives you more resources, knowledge, and power. They can help you use your voice.
To all of the young people out there who are creating social change or even fomenting social movements: hold on to your idealism and your belief in your ability to change the world. Your lofty goals demand attention and deserve support.
